Framing and mounting system

ABSTRACT

A framing system to receive an item to be displayed is disclosed. The framing system may include a transparent front display plate to receive a support. The support may mount to the display plate to form a sleeve in spaced relation to the display plate and to receive the item to be displayed.

BACKGROUND

Conventional picture frames consist of an outer frame which is typically made from wood, plastic or metal which has a groove formed on an inside edge into which a glass or other such transparent plate can be inserted. An item to be displayed is positioned behind the plate and is typically held in place using retaining clips at the rear. A backing plate and one or more other layers can be provided in order to securely hold the item in question in place and protect it from damage and dust for example.

Some systems for displaying an item dispense with a frame as such and typically include a transparent plate behind which an item to be displayed is positioned, and a rear panel, the two of which are held together by means of clamping devices at the edges thereby fixing the item in position behind the plate.

SUMMARY

According to an example, there is provided a framing system to receive an item to be displayed, the system including a transparent front display plate behind which the item to be displayed is provided in a support mounted to the display plate. In an example, the support is mounted to the display plate along three sides of the plate using adhesive portions such as tabs, which are arranged to form a receiving sleeve for the item including a gap between a rear panel of the support and the display plate which facilitates easy insertion and removal of an item to be displayed with respect to the sleeve.

In an example, the display plate includes a front border section around a periphery thereof to mask the adhesively mounted portions of the support from front view. The rear panel of the support can include multiple fixing portions to fix the system to a wall or other desired location. For example, holes can be cut out of the rear panel so that the head of wall fixings can be received, thereby allowing the system to hung on a wall or other suitable location. The rear panel can include portions which can be folded out to enable the system to be erected. For example, one or more flaps can be provided to enable the system to be stood on a surface. The flaps can be integral to the rear panel or attached to the rear panel.

According to an example, there is provided a kit for framing an item to be displayed, including a front display plate and a rear panel including multiple adhesive portions to be adhered to the display plate, wherein the adhesive portions are configured to form a sleeve for supporting the item when adhered to the plate.

In an example, a support can include adhesive portions to be attached to the display plate at positions other than the sides. For example, portions can be provided to be adhered to the plate in order to provide multiple sleeves for receiving an item to be displayed. The plate can be provided be further corresponding masking areas in order that additional adhesively mounted portions are obscured from view.

According to an example, there is provided a framing system to receive an item to be displayed, the system including a transparent front display plate to receive a support, the support to mount to the display plate to form a sleeve in spaced relation to the display plate and to receive the item to be displayed. The support can adhesively mount to the display plate. The support can define a rear panel for the system and multiple adhesive portions to fix to the display plate. The adhesive portions can fold back against an inside face of the rear panel with the adhesive facing outwards relative to the inside face, each folded back adhesive portion forming a channel with the rear panel. The outwardly facing folded back adhesive portions can attach to an inside face of the display plate to form the sleeve. The rear panel can include multiple support elements to support the system in a desired display position. A sealing tab to adhesively mount to the display plate once has item to be displayed has been received into the sleeve can be provided in order to seal the item into the system. The sealing tab can be a releasable tab so that the item can be removed if desired. The multiple adhesive portions can include adhesive portions to adhere to the display plate at the periphery thereof. The multiple adhesive portions can define multiple sleeves for the system. The display can include a masking portion on a front face thereof to mask mounted portions of the support.

According to an example, there is provided a frame to display an item, comprising a display plate with a transparent display area, a support mounted to the rear of the display plate to define a sleeve to receive the item, wherein the support is attached to the display plate at multiple locations at the rear of the display plate to maintain the support in spaced relation from the rear of the display plate. The support can include a support element to support the frame in a desired position or location. The display plate can further include a mask to obscure from view the parts of the support attached to it at the multiple locations. The support can be adhesively attached to the display plate. The support can include multiple portions to fold back against an inside face of a rear panel thereof to form the sleeve. An outwardly facing portion of the folded back portions can be attached to the inside face of the display plate.

According to an example, there is provided a method of framing an item, comprising, in a support attached to a display panel, providing the item into a receiving portion defined by a sleeve formed using the support and the display panel such that the receiving portion for the item is maintained in spaced relation to a rear face of the display panel. The support can be attached to the display panel using multiple attachment portions. The multiple portions can be arranged at least at the periphery of the support. The multiple portions can be adhesively attached to the display panel. The display panel can include an opaque portion to obscure from front view a portion of the support attached thereto.

According to an example, there is provided a kit for a system to mount an item to be displayed, comprising a transparent front display plate, and a support including multiple attachment portions to attach the support to the display plate to form a sleeve in spaced relation to the display plate and to receive the item to be displayed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a framing system according to an example;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a framing system showing an attached support according to an example;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the rear of a support according to an example; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the rear of a support according to an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular examples only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a framing system according to an example, and which can be provided in the form a kit for the system and which can be used to provide a frame. A display plate or panel 101 is provided behind which an item to be displayed can be provided and through which at least a portion of the item is visible. Typically, the display plate is made from glass, but it can be made from any other suitable material such as plastic or acrylic for example. In an example, the material is transparent, although in some examples a partially transparent material can be used, especially in the case when an item to be displayed can still be seen completely or partially through such a material. Use of such a material can be for artistic effect for example.

A support 103 is received on the plate 101. In an example, the support 103 is received on the plate 101 by attaching it to the plate at multiple locations, such as at the periphery 105 of the plate 101. The support 103 has a shape which corresponds to that of the plate 101, although other alternatives are possible, and the support 103 and plate 101 may be shaped and sized differently from one another as desired.

The support 103 can be attached to the plate 101 on multiple edges of the plate 101 such as in the case that the plate is rectangular, square or polygonal for example. In the case that the plate is another shape or includes other shapes such as circular or curved regions for example, the support 103 can be suitably attached so that an item to be displayed can be received in the support as will become apparent below. In an example, edges of the plate 101 to which the support 103 is mounted are located at the periphery of the rear of the plate 101.

In an example, the support 103 includes multiple portions 107 such as tabs which are used to attach it to the plate 101. For example, support 103 can be cardboard, and tabs 107 can be die cut or scored so that they can be bent or otherwise flexed into a desired position. Typically, tabs 107 will be bent back on themselves so that they can be used to attach the support 103 to the plate 101 using adhesive for example. Four tabs 107 are depicted in FIG. 1, but more or less may be present.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a framing system showing an attached support according to an example, and thereby forming a frame according to an example. Portions 107 are arranged so that they lie between a portion of the support 103 defining a rear panel 201 and a rear face 203 of the plate 101. Accordingly, a sleeve, shown generally at 205 is formed by virtue of the channels 207 formed from the portions 107. Sleeve 205 is narrower at the periphery of the plate 101 where portions 107 attach, and widens thereafter. Typically, an item to be displayed will be held in sleeve 205. Since the sleeve is narrower at the periphery this can cause an item to be securely held as it will effectively be gripped in these locations.

The rear panel 201 is held in spaced relation from the plate 101 by virtue of the portions 107. In use, an item to be displayed can be received in the sleeve 205. The provision of the spacing between the rear panel 201 and the rear face 203 aids the process of inserting and removing an item as there is a reduced force necessary to overcome any friction associated with the rear panel 201 of the support 103 and the rear face 203 of the plate 101 due to the extra space within which the item can move when being inserted/removed.

In an example, portions 107 can be attached to the plate 101 using any suitable adhesive such as glue. Alternatively, they can be attached using a double sided adhesive tape.

In an example, portions 107 are in the form of tabs, and—as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2—three tabs can be used to attach the support to a rectangular plate. The fourth side of the support is either without a portion 107, in which case it is used to insert and remove (if desired) an item to be displayed in the system, or it is provided with a “final” portion which can be attached to the plate after an item has been inserted. For example, an item can be received into the sleeve, and the remaining portion can be folded in over the item and attached to the plate so that the item is securely mounted in the system. Typically, this will mean the item can not be removed without destroying or damaging the support, although a releasable and/or reusable adhesive can be used on the final portion to enable a user to release it from the plate after it has been attached in order to remove, rearrange or replace the item before the final portion is re-attached.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the rear of a support according to an example. The support 103 includes a support element 301. A support element can be a cut out to receive a device for wall mounting the framing system, such a nail, screw or picture hook for example, or it can be a die cut support which can be folded out to support the system on a surface for example as is typical of known picture frames. In an example, multiple such support elements can be present in order to allow the system to be flexibly used in a number of different situations and orientations.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the front of a display plate according to an example. The display plate 401 includes a masking region 403 to obscure from view a portion of the system 400. In an example, the region 403 corresponds in size and position to the areas on the rear face of the plate to which portions 107 are attached. That is, the region 403 is present in order to obscure from view any parts of the support which are adhered to the plate and which would therefore be visible when the plate is viewed from the front. The masking region 403 can be any suitable colour, opacity or design as desired. It can, for example, be simple darkened region, or can be a more fanciful design.

According to an example, the support can be provided with portions at the periphery thereof as generally described above, but also with portions within the support so that multiple sleeves for items can be provided. Portions within the support can be arranged so that they attach the plate, in which case additional corresponding masking regions can be provided, or they can be arranged to form sleeves without attaching to the plate. In the latter case, masking regions may still be provided. Due to the attachment of peripheral portions to the plate, the internally provided portions can be provided without attachment as they will typically be maintained in the required configuration to provide multiple sleeves by virtue of the fact that the support is attached to the plate at its edges, thereby holding the support generally taught in relation to the plate.

According to an example, there is provided a kit for framing an item to be displayed, including a front display plate and a rear support panel including multiple adhesive portions to be adhered to the display plate, wherein the adhesive portions are configured to form a sleeve for supporting the item when adhered to the plate. 

1. A framing system to receive an item to be displayed, the system including a transparent front display plate to receive a support, the support to mount to the display plate to form a sleeve in spaced relation to the display plate and to receive the item to be displayed, each adhesive portion to fold back against an inside face of the rear panel with the adhesive facing outwards relative to the inside face, each folded back adhesive portion forming a channel with the rear panel.
 2. A framing system as claimed in claim 1, the support to adhesively mount to the display plate.
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)
 5. A framing system as claimed in claim 1, the outwardly facing folded back adhesive portions to attach to an inside face of the display plate to form the sleeve.
 6. A framing system as claimed in claim 1, the rear panel to include multiple support elements to support the system in a desired display position.
 7. A framing system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a sealing tab to adhesively mount to the display plate once has item to be displayed has been received into the sleeve thereby sealing the item into the system.
 8. A framing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multiple adhesive portions include adhesive portions to adhere to the display plate at the periphery thereof.
 9. A framing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multiple adhesive portions define multiple sleeves for the system.
 10. A framing system as claimed in claim 1, the display to include a masking portion on a front face thereof to mask mounted portions of the support.
 11. A frame to display an item, comprising: a display plate with a transparent display area; a support mounted to the rear of the display plate to define a sleeve to receive the item, wherein the support is attached to the display plate at multiple locations at the rear of the display plate to maintain the support in spaced relation from the rear of the display plate.
 12. A frame as claimed in claim 11, wherein the support includes a support element to support the frame in a desired position or location.
 13. A frame as claimed in claim 11, the display plate further including a mask to obscure from view the parts of the support attached to it at the multiple locations.
 14. A frame as claimed in any of claims 11, wherein the support is adhesively attached to the display plate.
 15. A frame as claimed in any of claims 11, wherein the support includes multiple portions to fold back against an inside face of a rear panel thereof to form the sleeve.
 16. A frame as claimed in claim 15, wherein an outwardly facing portion of the folded back portions is attached to the inside face of the display plate.
 17. A method of framing an item, comprising: in a support attached to a display panel, providing the item into a receiving portion defined by a sleeve formed using the support and the display panel such that the receiving portion for the item is maintained in spaced relation to a rear face of the display panel.
 18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the support is attached to the display panel using multiple attachment portions.
 19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the multiple portions are arranged at least at the periphery of the support.
 20. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the multiple portions are adhesively attached to the display panel.
 21. A method as claimed in any of claims 17, wherein the display panel includes an opaque portion to obscure from front view a portion of the support attached thereto.
 22. A kit for a system to mount an item to be displayed, comprising: a transparent front display plate; and a support including multiple attachment portions to attach the support to the display plate to form a sleeve in spaced relation to the display plate and to receive the item to be displayed. 23-26. (canceled) 